Government Adviser Is Dismissed After Doing Work on Behalf of Telecom Company

BEIJING—The rules guiding relationships between China's cabinet advisers and private businesses are spurring debate, after the dismissal of a government antitrust adviser who conducted paid work on behalf of U.S.-based Qualcomm Inc.

China's State Council dismissed Zhang Xinzhu from its antitrust advisory panel this week after learning that he worked on a report advising the wireless-technology company on pricing and business...